By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Sergio Rodriguez was besieged from many journalists after the end of Spain’s training and talked about the great quarter-final. He honestly said he would prefer to have avoided the battle with Greece in that phase of the Eurobasket, he believes Gasol and Rudy will be ready for the battle, while he doesn’t remember the 2007 semi-final, for which Yiannis Bourousis said that Greece was wronged by the referees!
“We know that we expect a major battle. They are tough, they don’t subside easily, they play very well defensively and have a tough and compact squad. We have a great knowledge of most of our opponents. We have faced them many times at a collective level,” said Real Madrid‘s point-guard and in a question whether this match could look like the recent battles between the “Queen” and Olympiacos, he said:
“It could be the case. Regarding the competitiveness and the intensity of the matches. Because in that match they will also be many players of the top level, who either play in other clubs or the NBA. Greece has Spanoulis, but apart from their leader, they have many solutions and many talented players, to whom we should pay attention.”
Later, he was asked whether the matches between Spain and Greece could be the most traditional battle in a national level in the European basketball. “It depends on the period for which we are talking about. For sure, both teams are traditional forces and we have played many great games between us in the past.”
Would he prefer a different opponent in the quarter-finals? “Yes, in that phase Greece is the most difficult opponent we could face. That’s true. Anybody can understand that if they see the remaining pairs. If I could avoid the match against Greece, I would prefer that.”
Regarding injuries, Rodriguez considers that Spain is lucky! “In such tournaments with so tough games in very few days, it’s normal that injuries can occur. We are lucky, because Pau didn’t suffer a more serious injury and I believe that both Gasol and Rudy will be ready for the the match against Greece.”
How did he respond in the question regarding Bourousis’ statement, that nobody in Greece has forgotten the semi-final in Madrid in 2007? “Many years have passed, I don’t remember the match! Yiannis represents his country and his team, he is a great player and always fights for the best in the big matches.”